The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to advise the House of the passing of a great educator yesterday in Yellowknife.

Mr. Cliff King of Inuvik was a dedicated teacher working for more than 30 years in Inuvik at the Samuel Hearne Secondary School. Mr. King will long be remembered as a teacher with a keen sense of humour who cared for his students, his profession and his community. He was a part of the school community, giving of himself in ways too numerous to mention. Many people in Inuvik will remember the 25 years Mr. King dedicated to his hockey teams and those he coached.

He demonstrated dedication not only to his students, but also to his profession. Most recently, Mr. King served as a vital member for the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, in the current collective bargaining sessions here in Yellowknife.

His passing will be a great loss to our teaching community in the North, and for the community of Inuvik.

Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife Jodie and sons David and Jason. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Indeed our condolences go from this House to the family. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, as well, would like to rise today and speak on the passing of Mr. Cliff King. Mr. Speaker, I had opportunity to work with Mr. King in my role as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and his involvement with education as a teacher on the negotiating team. But even before that, Mr. Speaker, I had opportunity to deal with Mr. Cliff King as a young student at Samuel Hearne Secondary School as he taught me a couple of courses in accounting, and his commitment to our community is one that will be missed. It's difficult to express the loss that members of the community and his family would feel. Our prayers go out to his family for their loss at this time and to the rest of the teachers that he's dealt with and his friends back home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge a major milestone of aboriginal people and the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are reaching a goal set forth in Towards a Better Tomorrow. The signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories ensures the participation that will give aboriginal governments more success in the business sector.

Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal people being the majority of the population in the Gwich'in settlement region, it is only fitting that they benefit from economic development through public sector contracts, providing employment, capacity building for communities and for the region. The seasonal work being considered as sole income for a lot of our residents and also for the North, has caused much delight, knowing the government has taken the steps Towards a Better Tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, this partnership will guarantee that both partners are working for the people and the residents of the NWT to ensure that the jobs, employment and economic opportunities stay within the local communities and the regions. With a more accountable system, the Gwich'in Nation would surely benefit from communities having ownership of the economic resources in the area they are serving. Mr. Speaker, the MOU intends that Gwich'in businesses be awarded 50 percent of public contracts for a five-year span. The GNWT contracting policies and procedures remain in place to ensure maximized local, regional and northern employment in business opportunities. This ensures that aboriginal ownership and work towards self-government in the Mackenzie Delta region is a success that allows for an economic footing in the developments that take place in the Mackenzie Delta and in the Gwich'in settlement region. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the parties all the best and I look forward to the next five years of a fair footing for the people of the Mackenzie Delta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that every citizen of Canada, including Northerners, has at least two fundamental rights, that being the right to access quality education and the right to quality health care. By way of this Member's statement, Mr. Speaker, I would like to help rattle the federal government's chain once more on behalf of all Northerners. Mr. Speaker, I fully support the northern Premiers' stand against the federal government. It is high time we tell Ottawa that we won't be their puppet on a string anymore. The critical state of our northern health care system demands that we do nothing less. Mr. Speaker, the recent decision by the federal government defining health care funding on a per capita basis has effectively taken away our right to quality health care based on the proposed amount of funding that we are to receive.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have to remind everyone that of the proposed $12 billion offered to the provinces and territories over the next five years, the NWT's share would amount to $15.6 million. Mr. Speaker, this paltry sum offered by the federal government is absurd and a slap in the face to all Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, we need to keep the pressure on Ottawa to adequately fund us to reflect the reality of providing services in the North. Residents of the Northwest Territories have the worst health care statistics in the country. In addition, we have the highest health care costs in the country. Yet, we are slated to receive the smallest share of the pie. That really goes to show where the federal government's priorities are.

Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat encouraged by recent developments that have come to light since the three northern Premiers took their stand. I am honored that the Premiers have a meeting scheduled this coming Thursday with the Prime Minister. I truly hope that the Prime Minister will do the right thing to ensure that Northerners have access to the same quality of health care as other Canadians. I find it extremely sad, Mr. Speaker, when I hear Canadian taxpayers saying that the only time the federal government makes any attempt to listen to them is at election time. It appears this is sad, but true. Mr. Speaker, as I deliver my Member's statement in this House, Finance Minister Handley is getting ready to deliver the federal budget in the House of Commons.

---Laughter

---Interjection

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Order, please. The time for your Member's statement has ended.

Paul Delorey Hay River North

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

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Delorey. Brief us on who is going to be the next Prime Minister.

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, as I deliver my Member's statement in this House, Finance Minister Manley is getting ready to deliver the federal budget in the House of Commons. I anxiously await what he has to say. This will give Northerners a clear understanding of exactly where the federal government's priorities lie. Mr. Speaker, after the Prime Minister announced that he won't be seeking re-election, he has spoken at length of what he wishes to leave as his distinct legacy for Canadians. Well, Mr. Speaker, it appears that if we, as Northerners, appear to have our distinct needs ignored by the federal government, then this legacy will truly be a legacy of neglect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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